apply the rest of the properties of a stone and its uses to the idea of ice.""I cannot describe to you," replied the Count on one of these occasions, "how much my reason is satisfied with respect to these mysteries (the conversation had been respecting the Divinity of Christ) of religion. The more we think upon them, the more of Divine wisdom we discover in them. We must only avoid asking every where, Why? We must rest satisfied with the authority of their Author. Even in human sciences this modesty is requisite; else we should never come to any certainty. Most common things may employ our researches for all our life-time, before we discover the first cause. Every why? would draw after it innumerable questions of the same nature; but our reason is not calcu lated to go on ad infinitum." N The chief subject of the twentieth conference, April 3, was the doc trine of the Trinity. This doctrine being stated to him in the most simple manner, he said," It ex cited his veneration; and as he was now a Christian upon principle, as to the theoretical parts of Christ's religion, he wished only to be the same as to the practical parts of it.". Being told in what manner he might give evidence of being a practical Christian, he replied, I am ready to odolany thing demanded in this respect; and it gives me comfort to find myself willing for this, forwI look upon it as a good sign. Formerly it would not have been so; Ishould not have sacrificed my vicious inclinations." He afterwards added, "I am convinced that the chief point is a true faith in God through Christ, and a renovation of mind from sin to holiness" ie We find him at the twenty-first conference, April 4, preparing his mind for his approaching trial. His impeachment was to come on in a few days and he was summoned to : appear in person to hear it, and to produced whatever he could in his defence: "but so tender was his con science that he doubted whether he ought to make any defence; till Dr. Munter told him, that Chris tianity did not forbid him to make use of all lawful means to save himself. He seems to have weighed the sub ject maturely, and at the next con ference said, I am come to a conclusion in what manner I shall act in regard to my defence. I see neither my life can be saved, nor my actions be justified: still I hope to be able to shew, that some are not quite so bad as they appear; for you know, to consider our actions in a moral light before God, and in a political one before the world, are two different things. I shall rest satisfied to shew (for more I cannot do) that my political mistakes were the consequences of error, precipitation, and passion, but not of a design to do mischief. I think I owe this to truth, and even to religion itself, as far as my conversion may either promote or hinder its interests; for if, by keeping silence, I had allowed that I was actuated by politically bad intentions (though I do not recollect any myself), then perhaps my conversion would have been looked upon as weakness and confusion of mind, notwithstanding it is the produce of a serious and rational examination. The world might have said, that a man could easily sacrifice his former principles on the subject of religion, when it was a matter of indifference to him, whether he was thought to be a deliberate villain or only a man who had transgressed from error in judgment." He however remarked, that he intended to say nothing in his defence that was not strictly true.ds of vig In order to try how far his change of character was sincere, Dr. Munter drew up a series of the most heartsearching questions for self-examination, and took down his answers to them in writing. He asked, "Are you heartily sorry that you have offended God by those voluptuous thoughts and actions of which you find yourself guilty ? Doly you think with detestation on those transgressions which gave you, according to your former sentiments, the greatest pleasure?" "Do you believe, that if you had, in future, opportunities to commit these sins, you would avoid them, out of obe dience to God?" "I am sure," replied the Count, "I should not be able to avoid them by the force of any other principle." In answer to another question he said, "I have no hopes for pardon but what are founded in God's mercy; and I am convinced that there are no other means for me to obtain it but through the merits of Christ." "Do you look upon this pardon of God," again asked Dr. Munter, " as the greatest favour that can be conferred upon you; greater than even the saving of your temporal life ?" The saving of my life," replied the Count, "and all other temporal benefits appear to me but very small in comparison of everlasting happiness, which I have already begun inwardly to experience." " Do you acknowledge yourself obliged," rejoined Munter, "on account of this pardon, to love God and your Redeemer sincerely; and will you strive to increase in this love?" "The deeper my convictions," replied the Count, the deeper is the impression the mercy of God and of my Redeemer makes upon me, and this increases my love and gratitude towards him."" Are you determined to shew this love towards God, by a ready obedience to his will, as long as you shall have time for it ?" "Since I hope to be more and more convinced of the love of God towards me," was the answer, "and since I acknowledge that what he has decreed respecting me is, in all respects, particularly in regard to my soul, the most advan tageous, I am sure that I shall submit to all his will without mur muring and without reluctance." The sensitive feeling of the Christian reader will perhaps in this and other parts of Struensee's conference be ready to detect an appearance of confidence in his own strength to keep his devout resolutions; but possibly his own original words might give a different air to some of his remarks; and indeed in the very next instance we find him using the more qualified expression, "As much as lies in my power, supported by that confidence which I place in God, I shall die with a Christianlike resolution.". It may be added also, that his instructor himself might not have sufficiently kept before his mind the weakness of the best human resolutions, and the necessity of the influences of the Holy Spirit, either to produce a good resolution or to work with us when it is formed. It would, however, be hypercritical too nicely to scan every shade of expression in the familiar language of a man like Struensee, immerging at once, from utter ignorance and infidelity, to a perception of the truth and power of the Gospel... On the 9th of April, towards the close of the conversation, he said, Though Scripture tells us but little about the state of the soul during its separation from the body, yet even this little is matter of great comfort. If God had found it useful or necessary to give us further information, he would have done it. It is fully sufficient to quiet my soul, to know that it will be in the hand of God. From this you may judge how much it must distress me, if now and then the thought returns, Perhaps there is no eternity!' I examined myself to-day very strictly, whether I found a secret pleasure in this thought, or if die than contradict truth, and take On another occasion, when (fusuch an oath." At this interview, ture judgment, and everlasting re Struensee sent some of the books wards and punishments, were the which had contributed to his own subjects of conversation, the Count information and conversion to Count expressed himself in this manner: Brandt, for whom he shewed the "It would be dreadful enough if tenderest care. Dr. Munter gave future punishments consisted in nohim this day Doddridge's Treatise thing else than the natural conse on the Rise and Progress of Reli- quences of sin, without any further gion in the Soul. dispensation of God. Men might be punished in eternity, were it only by those passions to which they were addicted in this world. They leave this world with all their internal appetites, which attend them in all their strength. There is nothing in the other world to satisfy these desires. They consume themselves in insatiable longings, and vain wishes. God needs only say to them, You shall remain as you are." At the twenty-fifth conference, April 11, a conversation which the Count had held with a person who disliked the reading of the Bible on account of its style, gave occasion to some remarks on that subject. Among other observations, the Count shrewdly said, that the railleries of freethinkers about Christ and his doctrine were plain proofs, that they had no intention of acting honestly. It is in general impertinent," said he, to turn a virtuous man into ridicule. The old and unusual expressions of the Bible cannot be the true reason for which they should think them deserving ridicule. They do not laugh at other ancient writings which are written in such a style. If, for instance, they were to read the books of Confucius, I am sure they would not hesitate about his style, but praise his morals. In the same manner, they extol the fables of Æsop, but the parables and narrations of Christ will not please them: notwithstanding they are derived from a greater knowledge of nature, and contain more excellent morality. Besides, they are proposed with a more noble and artless simplicity, than any writings of this kind, among ancient or modern authors. There must be therefore something else which prejudices them against Christ; and I do not know what else it can be, but that their heart is averses to his precepts." The Count had obtained leave to have pen and ink; and he said he would make use of them; to draw up the account of his conversion, which he had promised to leave behind him, and the substance of which has already been presented to the reader. Towards the close of another conversation, he declared that he thought himself happy in being so near eternity, though the manner in which he entered into it must be melancholy for him. In the mean time, he was anxious to give his whole mind to the great work" of making his calling and election sure. He thought it his duty to have his former life continually before his eyes, that he might keep up a lively sense of repentance, and to meditate continually upon the infinitely important subjects which now engrossed his attention. I do not like," said he, "to read, or to meditate on any thing else, but what concerns my chief business, which is a preparation for eternity.", d The Count on various occasions exhibited that characteristic feature of true conversion, an anxious wish for the salvation of others. Among other suggestions on this subject, he anticipated one most hopeful plan of Christian benevolence, which has since been carried into extensive effect. "I wish," said he to Dr.Munter, "you and other divines would write small pamphlets, to acquaint the people with the advantages of Christianity, which might often be of greater service than preaching. In 9192ni2 J20m edi An exhortation to advance in godliness, since his end was so near, produced the following declaration from him: "Thank God, I am ready to die, if it should be even to-morrow. The freethinkers will say, I should have found within myself strength enough against my misfortunes, without applying to religion. They will say, I shewed my self now a coward, and was for this reason unworthy of my former prosperity. Would to God I had not been unworthy of it for other reasons! However, I would ask these persons, in what manner I should have found comfort within myself? If I wished for tranquillity of mind, I durst not think on my crimes, on my present situation, or on futurity. Nothing was left for me but to en-The following passage shew's with what careful deliberation he had examined into the evidences of Christianity, and how judiciously he could reply to the cavils of infidelity. "I consider it," said he, " as mere fol ly, that the Deists pretend to be offended at the humble appearance of Christ and the first teachers of Christianity. In relation to God, nothing is either little or great; besides which, this humble appearance of Christ was well adapted to the design of his mission. The common people regarded him as one of their equals, and placed confidence in him. For a similar reason, Christ chose his Apostles from among the lower class of mankind, and the Apostles conversed mostly with persons of this sort. These common people were, however, as proper spectators of their miracles as an assembly of philosophers; as they were all of such a nature that nothing more was required to judge of them than the natural senses and a common share of understanding. A private soldier is, perhaps, more fit for such an observation than a general who has his head full of other things, or thinks it not worth his while to attend to it. The evidence given by men of common, understanding in behalf of Christ's miracles is, therefore, worthy of credit. The learned and philosophers can now consider these facts, and examine whether they are real miracles, and then determine how far they are in favour of Christ and his doctrine." have no bad effect upon the spectators, I should desire you not to accompany me to the scaffold.” “No, dear Count," replied Munter, "I am your only friend, and I dare not leave you. I will comfort you with the hope, which I entertain as a certain one, that you shall be happy in eternity: I will assist you in this extremity; and the only recompence I expect is to see you die as a Christian.' Towards the end of their conversation, April 22, Dr. Munter told him, that that week, in all probability, would be the last of his life, as his sentence would be speedily pronounced, and between the sentence and the execution of it there would elapse but very few days He received this news with his former resolution and serenity, "I trust,” said he," I shall meet my death without stupifying fear or anxiety. I am only apprehensive that you will be much affected by this, shocking scene. If it would DOT On the 25th of April, Dr. Munter communicated to him the fatal sentence, which he heard with the utmost composure. He acknowledged the justice of his punishment. He added to his sympathising friend: "I must only beg of you to be upon your guard, lest you should be too much affected when I am about to die. Let us continue our conversation calmly and composedly to the last. Upon the scaffold speak to me as little as possible, and as you shall think proper. I shall do as much as lies in my power to direct my thoughts towards God and my Redeemer. I shall not take leave of you. Believe me, that without this ceremony, which might discompose my mind, I know and feel how much I owe you." He then delivered to Dr. Munter a letter for his parents, in which he says: "With the most sincere repentance, I entreat your pardon and forgiveness. I owe my present hopes to my be lief in the doctrine and redemption of Christ. Your prayers and your good example have contributed much towards it. Be assured, that your son has found that great good, which you well know to be the only true one. I recommend myself to your further intercession before God. I pray incessantly to Christ my Redeemer, that he may enable you to bear your present calamities. I owe my own support to his assistance." He remarked, April 25, in reference to his sentence: "God will know how to preserve those particles of my body, which, on the day of the resurrection, are to constitute my future glorified body. It is not |